Championship Blood Round Comeback Killed By the Clock

By David Yaskulka
4/25/21

WASHINGTON TWP. -- West Morris Central wrestling championship contender Michael Campanaro launched a frenzied blood round comeback in this past Saturday’s state tournament but fell just short as the buzzer sounded. Trailing 6-0 in the final period to Jared Brunner, the Eastern 4-seed, Campanaro scored and scored again, but fell just short. The loss was in the second round of consolation wrestle backs (WB2), known as the “blood round” because winners advance to the podium, while their opponents go home empty handed.

In wrestlebacks, Campanaro faced Delbarton’s Thomas Fischer in a rematch of the Super Region semifinal bout. Campanaro scored a takedown late in the first period and rode Fischer out.
“Getting an early takedown like that sets the tone for the match and lets Mike dictate the pace,” said Coach Ken Rossi.

“Mike got headbutted hard and his eye swelled closed. He wrestled the rest of the day on one eye.”

Despite the injury, once again, the WMC co-captain pitched a shutout, ending Green Wave senior’s high school career 5-0, and advancing to WB2.

Illustrating that wrestling can be a contest of razor-thin advantages, Fischer had just mounted “a serious upset challenge” in the pre-quarterfinals according to NJ.com’s Joe Zedalis, losing in double overtime to eventual silver medalist Conor Collins. Campanaro defeated Fischer without allowing a point, but never had the opportunity to face Collins.

In the first championship round, Campanaro faced High Point’s Clayton Utter, the 6-seed. Utter scored first, Campanaro quickly reversed him, then Utter reversed control again for a 4-2 lead. After a big four-point move by Utter, Campanaro nearly ended it with a pin, but Utter escaped from his back with only two points of damage. Utter prevailed 9-4.

Rossi thought “Michael could have gotten two back points against Utter, but the official only counted one swipe. He would have needed to get it a little tighter if he was going to pin him.”

The most storied tournament in New Jersey wrestling, the championship was held at Phillipsburg rather than Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Only 16 wrestlers competed in each weight class, compared to the 32 who wrestled in prior years.

This was the second year that Campanaro had his hand raised at states, after his historic freshman campaign in 2019-20. Last season he placed in the top-16 -- this year he achieved top-12.

The Shocker That Wasn’t

TrackWrestling Dashboard observers were surprised to see 138-pound heavy favorite Joey Olivieri give up a first period take down to 16-seed Collin Rolak to trail 2-0. Then they were shocked to see the two-time state champion and Rutgers commit down 4-1 -- and then down 8-1. Then they observed the near impossible, as Track revealed Rolak pinned Olivieri for one of the biggest upsets in NJSIAA history.

Except he didn’t. Track had the names reversed on the Dashboard. Olivieri went on to win his third state championship with an overtime victory of Southern’s Eddie Hummel. To his credit, Rolak was victorious in WB1 before falling 3-1 in the blood round, finishing top-12 in the state.

Bastarrika Shines Among Local Wrestlers

Jack Bastarrika of Mt. Olive captured the sixth-place medal at 106. Both of his losses were to Livingston’s Aidan Carmody – by pin in the quarterfinals, and by 7-5 in overtime in the medal round. Mendham’s Jack Bertha fell short in the blood round, where losing 4-2 to the eventual fourth placer. Chris Tringali also competed from Mendham.

Contributing writer David Yaskulka’s day job is CEO of Nature’s Logic 100% Natural pet food. He’s also Board Chair of Greater Good Charities, and a Pet Sustainability Coalition Board member.